Funding Archives | American Libraries Magazine

Subcommittee Calls for Library Funding Increases

By Kevin Maher | September 14, 2018

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): $2 million increase Title IV-Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act: $70 million increase National Library of Medicine: $13 million increase Career and technical education state grants: $70 million increase Adult education state grants: $25 million increase Head Start: $200 million increase Level funding was provided for … Continue reading Subcommittee Calls for Library Funding Increases →

Complete Count Committees bring local stakeholders together to educate their community on the importance of the census. Image: Kentucky Youth Advocates

Getting Ready for the 2020 Census

By Gavin Baker and Larra Clark | September 11, 2018

CCCs provide information to community members about the Census. State, local, or tribal governments or community-based organizations form the committees and invite public officials and community leaders to participate. Most CCCs include representatives from a broad range of industries and organizations because so many segments of a community have a stake in ensuring a fair, … Continue reading Getting Ready for the 2020 Census →

As part of its DIY makeover, Francis W. Parker School in Chicago added beanbag chairs to its library. Photo: Francis W. Parker School

Design on the Cheap

By Phil Morehart | September 4, 2018

Start with what you have The first step in any design project, big or small, is intense self-reflection. Brian Lee, architect and design partner at Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, has designed libraries around the world, including the award-winning Chinatown branch of Chicago Public Library (CPL), which opened in 2015. He stresses the importance of research … Continue reading Design on the Cheap →

2020 Census (Image: Rebecca Lomax/American Libraries)

ALA Urges Commerce Department to Reject Census Citizenship Question

By Gavin Baker and Larra Clark | August 9, 2018

The comments submitted by the coalition elaborate on the harm that would result from adding such a question to the 2020 Census, including diminished data accuracy, an increased burden of information collection, and an added cost to taxpayers. The submission also points to the US Census Bureau’s own January 19 technical review, in which Associate … Continue reading ALA Urges Commerce Department to Reject Census Citizenship Question →

Spending Bill Includes Big Increases for Libraries

March 23, 2018

“We are thrilled that Congress has passed an FY2018 omnibus spending bill today that includes significant federal funding increases for our nation’s libraries! “One year ago, the White House proposed eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and slashed millions of dollars in federal funding for libraries. Twelve months and tireless advocacy efforts … Continue reading Spending Bill Includes Big Increases for Libraries →

2017 Year in Review

By the editors of American Libraries | January 2, 2018

Saving Federal Funding Thanks to extensive grassroots efforts by ALA members, in September the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an increase of $4 million in funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, all of which would go to the formula-based Grants to States program. The bill also included increased funding in FY2018 for a … Continue reading 2017 Year in Review →

Anonymous Donor to Match ALA Annual Fund Contributions

November 14, 2017

The match caps at $10,000 total per ALA unit, and $100,000 overall. Donors can participate by giving online or sending a check to ALA, Attn: Development Office, 50 East Huron St., Chicago, Illinois, 60611. ALA is asking its members, library advocates, and the public to consider making a gift to help support its efforts to … Continue reading Anonymous Donor to Match ALA Annual Fund Contributions →

Your Efforts Are Helping to #saveIMLS

By Jim Neal | September 20, 2017

I am pleased to report that on September 14, the full House of Representatives voted as part of a large spending package (H.R. 3354) not to make any cuts in federal funding for IMLS. This includes all funding for IMLS programs under the Library Services and Technology Act, and for the Department of Education’s Innovative Approaches to … Continue reading Your Efforts Are Helping to #saveIMLS →

Businesses Unite to Fight for Library Funding

May 17, 2017

In a May 17 statement, ALA President Julie B. Todaro praised CCLI, saying, “It’s thrilling to see such significant companies and associations across so many industries come together to fight alongside ALA and librarians for federal library funding.” She added that “libraries mean business,” and that working with CCLI can help ensure “that law- and policymakers fully … Continue reading Businesses Unite to Fight for Library Funding →

It’s Time to Make That Call

By Keith Michael Fiels | May 1, 2017

If no one does anything, this could actually happen. Only a band of brave individuals stands between us and this scenario becoming a reality. Who are these heroes? They are us. When speaking at chapters around the country, I often ask attendees to raise their hands if they have ever had their US representative or … Continue reading It’s Time to Make That Call →

Fight for Libraries

By Julie B. Todaro | May 1, 2017

Right now, here are some possible scenarios with regard to the federal budget: We win most: The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) are funded but partially cut. We win a few: IMLS and LSTA are funded but seriously cut, and IAL … Continue reading Fight for Libraries →

Students at Wanamaker Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas.

School Raises Money to Support Haiti’s Libraries

By Alison Marcotte | April 13, 2017

“We tie some education with it,” says Alice Reinert, school librarian at Wanamaker. “It’s geared to help our younger students learn their coins. And it’s also to try to get them service minded.” February is also when Wanamaker holds its Book Fair, so the month was a celebration of books and literacy, Reinert says. At … Continue reading School Raises Money to Support Haiti’s Libraries →

Latest Library Links

49m

An early-morning fire completely destroyed the Joice (Iowa) Public Library on September 21. Investigators are uncertain how the fire started, but the building itself was undergoing renovations, including getting a new roof. Joice Mayor Mark Thoma says that there is no set timeline as to when the library will be rebuilt, but city council is looking at options, including a mobile trailer to house a temporary location. Librarians wishing to help in the recovery efforts can contribute to a GoFundMe account.

KIMT-TV, Mason City, Iowa, Sept. 21
1h

Sarah Letts writes: “Introducing your students to authors they can grow with gives them a literary friend for life. Developing a literary relationship that can continue throughout their reading journey provides them with someone familiar, especially during those tumultuous times, like middle school. Middle school can be a challenging time for students to find appropriate reading materials due to the age range, the desire to read up, as well as the selection of books that may be too low or too mature.”

Knowledge Quest blog, Sept. 26
2h

Kristen Arnett writes: “Nobody tells you that librarianship means understanding how to operate heavy machinery, yet here I sit, once again digging out the smoking guts of a jammed copy machine. When I ask what the patron put into it, they tell me they ‘found it that way,’ though they look at the floor, the ceiling, their hands, anywhere but me or the grunting, squealing, broken monster in front of us. I clear the debris. The culprit: pink and yellow construction paper. ‘Looks like someone was trying to make valentines,’ I say. ‘How romantic.’”

Literary Hub, Sept. 26
2h

Sasha Moss writes: “On September 18 the Senate passed, under unanimous consent, a large modernization package known as the Music Modernization Act. For the first time since the passage of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the 1990s, a major overhaul of the current music licensing structure may happen. Now the bill heads to the House for a likely favorable vote.” “The bill now guarantees that old sound recordings will clearly and fully enter the public domain after the expiration of this new federal right,” said Public Knowledge policy counsel Meredith Rose.

R Street, Sept. 23
2h

The Copyright Alliance applauded the House on September 25 for passing the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act (S. 2559), legislation that amends the Copyright Act to enable the US to join the treaty. The Senate had passed the legislation in June, and the bill will now go to the president for his signature. According to Copyright Alliance CEO Keith Kupferschmid, “legislation will build upon existing international copyright principles to provide persons with print disabilities with access to a wealth of published works.”

Copyright Alliance, Sept. 25
2h

Stephanie M. Hlywak has been named ALA’s new director of Communications and Marketing, effective October 1. She comes to ALA from the Muscular Dystrophy Association, where she served as national director of content marketing. She has also held positions at Kathy Schaeffer and Associates, the Poetry Foundation, and the University of Chicago Press. She will join ALA’s management team, with the intent of strengthening consistent internal and external communications across the Association.

ALA Human Resources, Sept. 25
2h

The ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table is accepting nominations for the 2019 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award. This award, presented annually, honors notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense of freedom of expression by a living individual, group, or organization. The award consists of a citation and $500. The deadline is December 1.

Intellectual Freedom Round Table, Sept. 25

View more Latest Library Links